Thursday, April 15

artful thursdays #14.....zipper purse tutorial

ok, huge confession here...i have the biggest wool collection in my state, i think.plus i never, ever pass up a vintage metal zipper at a sale. i buy even the used ones that someone clipped out of a skirt. it seems i always see a vision of something new that could be made with old vintage wool skirts and coats. time to get busy making some zipper purses for my artful thursday project this week...my favorite thing to tuck inside these little purses is my jewelry when i travel, next i like to corral all the little things that collect at the bottom of my purse: lipstick, gum, nail file, that sort of thing. once you make one you will be making them for everything. 4 seams on the sewing machine and a bit of hand stitching is all it takes.

gather together scraps and pieces of wool felt. i use washed and felted clothing and hand dyed wool. even the tiniest pieces will make a flower. you will also need a zipper, any length will do, i always cut off the extra, some embroidery thread and something sweet to sew on top like a vintage button or bead.

step 3. pin the cut edges to your zipper and sew both ends to your zipper. i use my zipper foot and a smaller stitch like 2.5.

step 4. close the zipper and turn the purse inside out. pin the two ends closed. you can either center the zipper down the middle, or move it to one side a bit. sew the zipper pull end first. unzip the zipper just a bit and sew a 1/4 seam allowance. i sew this seam twice to make it extra sturdy.step 5. now sew the other end closed. it is a bit tricky sewing over the metal zipper teeth. i have a sturdy jeans needle i use and i 'walk' the needle over the zipper teeth with my hand. sew this seam twice also.

step 6. cut the zipper end off with utility scissors and turn the purse right side out. poke all four corners out nicely and press your zipper purse using a wool setting on your iron and steam. i iron right over the zipper.

step 7. now for the the decorating part. for this little purse i added a felt flower embellishment and stitched it on with embroidery thread.

my friend cassondra walters mailed me these gorgeous vintage wool flowers. you can make your own with tiny scraps of felt.

first i cut out the two felt circles using a circle template and trace the circles with a pencil. cut out the green felt stem and leaves and place them on the purse where you like them. sew through the two circles and attach the little applique and bead.

step 8. using a pale green thread sew tiny back stitches to attach the stem and leaves. so adorable! these little purses feel so thick and scrunchy in your hands and can totally go the distance with their metal zippers.

here are a whole stack of ideas to get you going.

these two purses have millinery flowers sewn on them.

i couldn't resist this polka dot fabric to line this purse, plaids are my favorite!

fancy buttons make great flowers!

these two purses have tiny seed beads and embroidery for the design.

if you like you can attach a fun bead or button to the zipper pull with a jump ring. this little bell shaped glass bead looked like a little mushroom to me. happy thursday, julie

You're such an inspiration Julie. I will make one for my granddaughter's June 1st birthday, she will be five and loves pretty, girlie things. Only problem I can't find felt in soft colours in New Zealand. Can you give me a source in US? Thankyou.

OMG...those are so charming, I can hardly stand it. I have a new sewing machine, still sitting in "wait" for my courage. Have not sewn since my twenties and I am long past that. You make it look possible. Maybe this will be the project that propels me along!Thank you :-)Suz

Your zippers purses make me so happy and it's thanks to YOU that i now have the largest zipper collection ever. Thanks for this tutorial. I feel like I hit the jackpot!!!! Can't wait to make one...Finally!!!

Hi! i really love these sweet little purses! thanks for sharing. So cute, so adorable.I will try to make one. I have zig zag scissors but I love your scallop scissors. Can you tell me where can I bought that scissor?

I cannot wait to try my sewing hand at these. I love the little embellishments! Thanks for sharing. I enjoy trying out new sewing projects. I just posted how to make a shirt from two silk scarves. You may like it, I don't know, but I thought I would share the link:http://www.potholesandpantyhose.com/A/Arts_%26_Crap.htmlHope you enjoy!

Your purses are really beautiful. I love making little purses too, i have at least 3 in my bag at all times! I never thought of looking for old zips on my op shop trips so now i have some else to scan for! Thanks.

Thank you so much for a wonderful tutorial. I found it so inspiring I had to make one! I changed things up a bit, but I still linked you. Check it out at http://stresstheseams.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-you-be-inspired-days-pocketwatch.html

How absoulutly darling! Your beautiful and simple designs remind me of my German and Italian roots and are never out of style. Thank you so much for your generosity to share your techniques with the world. I thank you very kindly. Lore

Like everyone else, I love them! I made one today and it was super easy. It turned out really cute. I still have to decorate the outside. Now all I have to do is buy a ton of zippers to make more. Thank you so much for sharing!!

Hi Julie,Love your tutorial on the tiny zipper purses, thanks for sharing your fab idea. The purses are absolutely gorgeous. I will have to try them out. I'm sure that my daughter would love to try too. I've not been able to peek at you blog for a while, sorry, but just had a few minutes today, so have been having fun catching up.Many thanks again for all the lovely things you showcase and share with us.Warmest best wishes,Su-x-

Hi Julie,Love your tutorial on the tiny zipper purses, thanks for sharing your fab idea. The purses are absolutely gorgeous. I will have to try them out. I'm sure that my daughter would love to try too. I've not been able to peek at you blog for a while, sorry, but just had a few minutes today, so have been having fun catching up.Many thanks again for all the lovely things you showcase and share with us.Warmest best wishes,Su-x-

Hi, My sister is crazy about wallets and purses.I have never done anything special for her.I checked your site,I realized how simple and fun it is to make a purse.I am gonna make one for my sis.And will update you soon on it.Thanks for teaching us to make such lovely purses.The purses shown in this site gives a lot of mental peace.

Thanks for sharing your talents! Cute, Cute!! I plan to make these from some wool sweaters, after my next trip to the recycle store. Awesome flowers, in ~*~* L O V E *~*~ with your little zipper purses.

Then, on the delightful pictures your are showing, I saw a treasure...! Apair of scissors that I had dreamed about and which I thought didn't exist!

Some CURLY zigzag scissors!!!

Please, please, please: could you tell me what is the brand of yourwonderful scissors, and where you bought them? I was looking for fantasyscissors that could cut felt, I had looked for such scissors and couldn'tfind any in real shops or on the web, and was even asked my sellers "areyou sure this does exist?". And, thanks to you, I saw these fantasy blades!!!I hope you''l be able to answer my question and help me in my quest...!

Hi There! I came across your purses and just LOVE them!!! I seen the one with the polka dots on the inside and was wondering if you could share how you did the liner on the inside? I tried one way and it just didn't come out right, was wondering if you could share a way that would work with this style of purse? Thank you! :) Love all your work!

About Me

I am an artist with a house full of kids and their beautiful messes.
i also have my share of vintage stuff here and there...
i grow english roses, cook with real butter, and love to make pretty things.
thanks so much for stopping by.